Recommended Chicken Breeds for the Missouri Climate

Missouri Climate

• Missouri's climate varies slightly on a regional basis, but the differences are not significant where poultry-rearing is concerned. The state has no significant topographical features to affect its weather patterns, which are influenced by the Gulf of Mexico to the south and Canada and the Great Plains to the north. Summer temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit and winter temperatures below zero occur consistently but infrequently. Chickens require adequate water in all weather, and shelter in cold weather, but otherwise, the Missouri climate is not a notable factor in breed selection.

Logistics of Backyard Chickens

• Although the notion of chickens roaming freely through the grass is emotionally appealing, it is generally impractical and in some locations illegal. Checking local ordinances on backyard poultry is essential before investing any time or money in materials. Springfield, for example, specifies a maximum of six hens and no roosters, and the henhouse must be at least 25 ft. from any surrounding structure. If your lot does not allow for that distance, you will not be able to rear chickens. There are also standards for odors, water, feeding, litter, predator prevention and ventilation.

Desirable Breed Characteristics

• The Missouri climate requires little of a breed other than a minimum of cold-hardiness. This leaves a backyard hobbyist free to select a bird for its desirable combination of characteristics. Some of these might include above-average egg or meat production, desired egg size and color, temperament or aesthetic considerations. Those who plain to breed chickens, or live in an area where roosters are barred, might choose a breed whose coloration varies by gender. Others, with an eye to genetic diversity, might choose to raise a rare or threatened breed.

Extension Service Recommendations

• The University of Missouri's extension service has much advice to offer on the subject of hobby chicken rearing, including a short list of six breeds that are well suited to the backyard. These are the Plymouth Rock, Araucana, Australorp, Rhode Island Red, Orpington, and Golden Comet. All are good layers, and all but the Araucana are good birds for meat as well. The Araucana is a strikingly beautiful bird that lays colored "Easter eggs," endearing it to families with children. The Golden Comet can be sexed by the gender-based variation in its plumage.